Pneumatic rock drill muffler with water mingling pipe



Feb. 15, 1966 R. L. LINDBERG PNEUMATIC ROCK DRILL MUFFLER WITH WATER MINGLING PIPE Filed Oct. 8, 1964 Fig./

Raymond L. Lindberg 1N VENTOR.

United States Patent 3,235,030 PNEUMATIC BUCK DRILL MUFFLER WITH WATER MINGLIN G PIPE Raymond L. Lindberg, Rte. 1, Box 311, Bessemer, Mich. Filed Oct. 8, 1964, Ser- No. 402,593 8 Claims. (Cl. 181-52) The present invention generally relates to pneumatic rock drills, and is more particularly concerned with the provision of a non-freezing mufiler for such drills.

One of the primary objects of the instant invention is to provide an effective compact mufller which can be mounted directly'on a conventional pneumatic rock drill so as to effectively accommodate the exhause coming therefrom.

Another significant object of the instant invention is to provide a muffler wherein a constant spray of water is utilized so as to prevent a freeze-up of the inlet and outlet ports thereof.

Furthermore, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a mufiler which, though relatively simple in construtcion, is of a strudy nature capable of withstanding the shocks to which it will be subjected during normal operation of the drill.

Basically, in achieving the above objects, it is contemplated that the m-ufiler of the instant invention include an elongated cylindrical closed chamber having an exhaust inlet port communicating laterally therewith adjacent one end, and an exhaust outlet port communicating coaxially with the other end. In addition, the freeze-up preventing water is to be introduced to both the inlet port and the outlet port through an elongated water pipe extending longitudinally through the chamber and having a laterally directed discharge nozzle thereon extending to the inlet port while the extreme end of the water pipe extends to the outlet port. Finally, it is contemplated that a plurality of baffies be provided transversely across the chamber with these bafiies constructed and orientated so as to cause a constant rotational movement of the fluid as it passes through the chamber so as to also prevent the freeze-up within the chamber itself.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial plan view illustrating the muffler of the instant invention mounted in position upon a pneumatic drill;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 3-3 in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 44 in FIGURE 2.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 1t? is used to generally designate the muffler comprising the instant invention. The mufller consists basically of an elongated hollow tubular shell 12 defining an elongated cylindrical chamber 14 having closed forward and rear ends 16 and 1%. Slightly forward of the closed rear end 18 of the chamber 14 is an exhaust inlet port 20, provided with a projecting cylindrical pipe section for communication with the exhaust port of a conventional pneumatic rock drill 22. The other or forward end 16 of the tubular member 12 is provided with a greatly enlarged exhaust outlet port 24 provided with a forwardly projecting cylindrical pipe section 26 to which a discharge hose 28 is to be clamped, this hose 28 disposing of the discharge from the muffler 10 remote from the drill 22.

Extending coaxially through the chamber 14 is an elongated water pipe 30 which is communicated to a suitable valve controlled source of pressurized water. The forward end 32 of the water pipe 30 is located adjacent to or within the exhaust outlet port 24 so as to provide a constant spray of water both on the outlet port 24 and the interior of the pipe section 26 so as to prevent a freeze-up resulting from the normally chilled condition of the exhaust. In addition, through a T-fitting 34, a laterally directed spray nozzle 36 is aligned with the exhaust intake port 20 so as to spray water thereon during the operation of the drill. The spray from the nozzle 36 is of course not sufiicient so as to axially discharge through the intake port 20 against the inward flow of the exhaust, and is carried along through the chamber 14 and out the outlet port 24 by the exhaust flow. The spray from the nozzle 36, in the same manner as the spray from the open end 32 of the pipe 3! mingles with the exhaust and prevents the freeze-up which might be normally expected.

In order to prevent freeze-up within the mufiierchamber 14-, a constant agitation or rotation of the water flowing therethrough is effected. This is accomplished by the provision of radially extending angularly orientated fins 38 on a plurality of longitudinally spaced oafiles 46. The baffles 46 include central apertured hubs 42 which receive and support the Water pipe 30 while the outer ends of the fins 38 are welded directly to the interior of the chamber 14 at peripherally spaced points thereabout. As illustrated in the drawings, if so desired, the fins 38 on the bafiies 4%) can be angled in opposite directions so as to initially cause a rotation of the Water flowing through the chamber in one direction and subsequently reversing the rotational movement, this constant movement preventing the presence of dead water on the bottom of the chamber 14 such as might tend to freeze. As will be appreciated, various other types of battles may be used, although it should be appreciated that these bafiles should incorporate some configuration which will tend to maintain a constant agitation of the water flowing through the chamber 14. FIGURE 4 illustrates a baflle 44 having radially projecting fiat fins which is to complete the particular baffle arrangement illustrated in the drawings.

The mufiier 19 is mounted on a conventional rock drill 22 through one or two adjustable clamps 46 engaged over projecting brackets 48 welded to the tubular chamber forming member 12. In operation, the exhaust from the drill 22 is introduced into the mufiler through the inlet port 29 where it is immediately commingled with water sprayed from the nozzle 36 with the combined water and exhaust moving through the cylindrical chamber 14 and maintained in constant rotational movement until discharge through the exhaust outlet port 24 where a second constant discharge of Water takes place so as to also prevent freeze-up at this point. As noted supra, the outlet port is substantially larger than the inlet port so as to avoid any back pressure and insure a complete and efficient discharge of both the water and exhausted air. In this manner, a highly efficient muftling of the cold exhaust from a pneumatic rock drill is achieved without the undesirable freeze-up which might normally be expected in attempting to provide for such a muifiing. Incidently, while three baffles have been specifically illustrated, it should be appreciated that any reasonable number of bafiles can be used. Further, if necessary to prevent freeze-up, laterally directed holes can be provided in water pipe 38 so as to spray water directly on the baifies.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention, as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A mufiler for a pneumatic rock drill comprising an elongated closed cylindrical chamber, an exhaust inlet port in the chamber adjacent one end thereof, an exhaust outlet port in the chamber adjacent the other end thereof, an elongated water pipe extending longitudinally through said chamber, a first discharge opening in said pipe directed toward the inlet port, a second discharge opening in said pipe directed toward the outlet port, and a plurality of spaced bafiles oriented in said chamber so as to produce an agitation of fluid passing through the chamber.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said outlet port is larger than the inlet port and acts so as to discharge both the exhaust from the pneumatic drill and the water mixed therewith.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said first discharge opening is in substantial coaxial alignment with said inlet port, and said second discharge opening is in substantial coaxial alignment with said outlet port.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein at least two baffles are provided, each of said bafiles having radially extending angularly orientated fins, the fins on each bafiie being angled oppositely from the fins on the other baffle so as to effect a reversal of the agitated fiow through said chamber.

5. A muffier for a pneumatic rock drill comprising a closed chamber, an exhaust inlet port in the chamber, an exhaust outlet port in the chamber in spaced relation to said inlet port, a water pipe located within said chambed, a first discharge opening in said pipe directed toward the inlet port, a second discharge opening in said pipe directed toward the outlet port and bafile means located within 4. said chamber so as to produce an agitation of the fluid passing through the chamber.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said chamber is elongated, said inlet port and said outlet port being located adjacent opposite ends of said elongated chamber, said baflle means comprising a plurality of spaced bafiles orientated within said chamber between said inlet port and said outlet port.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein said first discharge opening is in substantial coaxial alignment with said inlet port, and said second discharge opening is in substantial coaxial alignment with said outlet port.

8. A muffler for a pneumatic rock drill comprising an elongated closed chamber, an exhaust inlet port in the chamber adjacent one end thereof, an exhaust outlet port in the chamber in spaced relation to said inlet port, an elongated water pipe located within said chamber, a first discharge opening insaid pipe directed toward the inlet port in substantial coaxial alignment therewith, and a second discharge opening in said pipe directed toward the outlet port in substantial coaxial alignment therewith.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 270,488 1/1883 Saunders 17374 X 825,923 7/1906 Monahan 30 837,347 12/1906 Smith 173-61 1,146,284 7/1915 Sanders 17374 X 2,152,176 3/1939 Dickenson 17360 2,263,407 11/1941 Kittell 18143 FOREIGN PATENTS 519,586 12/1955 Canada.

308,866 10/ 1918 Germany.

180,725 5/ 1922 Great Britain.

330,124 6/ 1930 Great Britain.

708,552 5/ 1954 Great Britain.

525,941 5/1955 Italy.

LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner. 

8. A MUFFLER FOR A PNEUMATIC ROCK DRILL COMPRISING AN ELONGATED CLOSED CHAMBER, AN EXHAUST INLET PORT IN THE CHAMBER ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF, AN EXHAUST OUTLET PORT IN THE CHAMBER IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID INLET PORT, AN ELONGATED WATER PIPE LOCATED WITHIN SAID CHAMBER, A FIRST DISCHARGE OPENING IN SAID PIPE DIRECTED TOWARD THE INLET PORT IN SUBSTANTIAL COAXIAL ALIGNMENT THEREWITH, AND A SECOND DISCHARGE OPENING IN SAID PIPE DIRECTED TOWARD THE OUTLET PORT IN SUBSTANTIAL COAXIAL ALIGNMENT THEREWITH. 